05 Aug 2020 10:23:38
I have been thinking about what other positions we might need to strengthen in over the next two years. This summer RW, CB and CAM seem pretty much agreed are the priority positions.
While a long-term replacement to Matic will be needed at some point. However, McTominay may develop into a holding player, although personally I don't think that makes the most out of his talents. While we have young Garner coming through who looks like he will develop into a player reminiscent of Michael Carrick in his prime. Right wing or striker might then be another area we might need to strengthen again in a year or so's time. Much depends on how Greenwood develops, if he is best wide right then we will need competition for Martial. If he looks best as competition for Martial centrally then we would need competition for whoever we sign to play on the right this summer, mostly likely Sancho.
However, one area not often talked about that I think might need some attention is left back. This might seem a strange thing to say the day after Brandon Williams signs a new long-term deal after a breakthrough season. Yet my concerns come from the limitations Williams has as a LB and the injury record of Shaw.
When Shaw is fit and playing, he is one of the most important players for us in my opinion. He provides a vital overlap to Rashford, pulling the opposition full back wide and creating space on the inside left for Rashford to pick up the ball and run at the centre backs. While I have been very impressed with Williams, Rashford's best form has come with Shaw behind him. With both Rashford and Williams looking to cut back on to their right foot, we become easier to defend down the left when they both play. As a side note the few times Williams has played at RB he has looked fantastic and he could easily be a more offensive option to AWB, he has played RB in those few games better than I have seen Dalot or TFM play there in 2-3 years.
I feel at some point a left footed alternative to Shaw should be sought. To highlight the issue, I looked at just how many games Shaw has missed for us this season. Shaw has made 29 starts for us and 4 sub appearances. While as a club we have played 58 games so far across four competitions, unless we lose 6-0 tonight then we will have at least tonight's game and one other, possibly another 3 games in total after tonight making a possible 62 games this season. Shaw will not be fit for any of those games. So far this season he has missed 25 games through injury, with at least 2 more, meaning he could miss as many as 29 games this season if we make the Europa league final. Which would mean he would have missed as many as he has started.
Herein lies the problem. Williams is 19 years old, heading into his second season. While the player ahead of him has a patchy injury record and has missed nearly 50% of our games this season. While our other full back squad options (Dalot and TFM) have played a total of 203 minutes of football this season, also due in large part to injuries.
On the surface we have solid options at full back, the reality is that Dalot and TFM won't likely be fit, while of the other three options (AWB, Shaw and Williams), one will likely miss nearly half our games through injury.
I would be sorely tempted to sell both Dalot and TFM and bring in a left footed left back to give us four good options at full back. Two right footed and two left footed and at least three who you can rely on to be fit for most of the season. Either that or we will likely have to rely on Laird making the step up sooner rather than later.
05 Aug 2020 11:44:24
Good opportunity for williams to get games.
05 Aug 2020 11:48:11
Fullbacks add a different dimension to the team's attacks.
TAA and Robertson have set an unreal standard.
Both of them bombard forward at every opportunity.
I really want us to sign Alaba who is likely to leave Bayern.
05 Aug 2020 12:23:21
Jred, it's a fabulous opportunity for Williams. I'd fully expect him to make 20-30 starts next season.
My concern though is that in the modern game where full backs are expected to attack as much as they defend, it is hugely physically demanding.
Which considering the injury records of 3 of the 5 full backs we have mean that AWB might have to play most of the games next season. To be honest he has looked a little leggy in the last few games. I'm hoping Laird gets a run out tonight to give AWB a little break.
I think we could do with an extra body at full back while shipping out a couple (Dalot and TFM) who's injuries mean they can't be relied upon to act as cover.
TrueRedDevil, I'm not a huge fan of Alaba, he's clearly a good player, fantastic on the ball. But could he handle the EPL. He's played all his career at Bayern Munich, never really challenged, and Bayern seem fairly happy to let him leave.
We could go for someone like Jamal Lewis from Norwich for a fairly low fee. He's been very good this year, is young and British. Would be great back up/ competition. Or Theo Hernandez has been having a great season at the fairly average AC Milan. Or Alex Telles from Porto, who has been great for several years. While Sergio Reguilon has been phenomenal at Sevilla on loan from Real Madrid and by all accounts is available.
Depends what you want. Lewis could be available for around 10-15m apparently. That would be an absolute bargain. While the other three could slot in and immediately improve us down the left, but would cost a fair amount 35-45m maybe, which ordinarily wouldn't be an issue, but in the current situation, especially if we push ahead for Sancho might be a little too pricey as lower priority signing.
05 Aug 2020 13:05:52
What are your thoughts on Carreras?
I know he is only 17 but if he completes his move and has a great start he may find himself with the 1st team squad by the end of the year.
05 Aug 2020 14:01:58
My concern with Williams is his right foot on the left having to cut inside to cross, just doesn't make full sense to me.
05 Aug 2020 14:02:41
Shappy I agree!
With the death of the 4-4-2 formation and a shift towards more possession based football, full backs now more than ever provide the width and attacking thrust for most sides.
With many wingers now inverted and operating more as inside forwards, most defences now play narrower and it's often the full backs that find themselves in space and tasked with providing the attacking width and impetus.
I think we saw towards the end of the season sides were happy to let our full backs have possession and play narrower, congesting the middle of the pitch and denying space for the likes of Fernandes, Martial, Greenwood and Rashford to operate. This was especially evident when Shaw was out injured. I like AWB but there must be more to his game than the odd slide tackle. (Maybe a touch harsh but hopefully you get my point) .
Maybe the next step of our evolution is to find full backs that can have much more of an impact in the attacking third.
I don't think its any coincidence that Leicester struggled when they lost both Chilwell and Pereria to long term injury. I think it we had their full backs and added Sancho we wouldn't be too far away from a title challenge.
I haven't been overly impressed by Dalot but maybe he'll get a chance in the Europa. He has all the qualities to be a great attacking fullback but maybe injuries and a lack of confidence have slowed his development. I've also heard promising things about Ethan Laird so maybe he'll now get his chance as well. Unfortunately they are both predominantly right sided full backs.
05 Aug 2020 14:17:59
PogtheDog, Alvaro Fernandez Carreras is supposedly a very talented young player. I haven't seen him play so I can't give any actual analysis on him as a player. What I would say though is that it's very difficult as a very young player under the age of 18 with no first team experience to move countries and step straight up to first team football.
Pogba and Mejbri haven't done it, not went into the youth system for at least a year to acclimatise first. The Brazilian twins moved as 18 year olds and played half a season at youth level before making a first team appearance. They are the ones who I can remember thinking wow that was quick.
Carreras hasn't played at senior level, he has only played at Spanish youth level. He won't be used to the pace and physicality of the EPL. I don't see him playing for the first team for at least a year to 18 months yet.
Ethan Laird if not loaned out will be the one to step up if needed. He can play on both sides. My preference would be to loan him out as he will need games, but in doing so we could be caught a little short.
This season we kept both Chong and Gomes when they both clearly needed a loan. The result is that neither has played enough. One has left and the other nearly left as well.
Garner and Laird should be loaned out next season. Mengi as well unless 2-3 CB's leave. These lads will only improve with first team minutes. If not here then on loan. All of them are too good for youth level now, they need the next challenge or their development will stall. With Carreras and Juardo coming in then there is cover at youth level for Laird to go on loan.
For me the ideal scenario is sell both Dalot and TFM, loan out Laird and bring in a left footed full back such as Lewis. Giving us four options at full back, AWB, Shaw, Williams and Lewis or whoever. In a 60 game season all of them can get 30 starts meaning none get burned out.